UH set for toughest test against Vanderbilt's defense

Commodores' stingy defense could restrain potent offense

Vanderbilt's defense will have to find a way to contain UH wide receiver Demarcus Ayers, who is averaging 93.4 receiving yards per game this season.

Photo: John Raoux, STF

Just like the other seven games, nothing changed for the University of Houston this week.

"No matter if we are playing the SEC, ACC or AAC," safety Trevon Stewart said. "We're going to keep doing the same thing."

It's worked for the No. 18 Cougars, who are off to a 7-0 start for the fourth time in their 70-year history entering Saturday night's game against Vanderbilt at TDECU Stadium.

UH is one of 12 remaining unbeaten teams - including three in the American Athletic Conference - in Football Bowl Subdivision as it looks to keep pace with Memphis, Toledo and Temple as the top contenders for the Group of Five's spot in a New Year's Six bowl.

The final non-conference game, against a Southeastern Conference opponent, also presents the Cougars an opportunity for two wins against Power 5 schools in the same season (they knocked off Louisville 34-31 on Sept. 12) for the first time since beating UCLA and Penn State in 2011.

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About the game

When/where: 6 p.m. today; TDECU Stadium.

TV/radio: ESPN2; 950 AM.

Records: Vanderbilt 3-4, Houston 7-0.

Notable: Game is being billed as "Blackout" for Halloween as the No. 18 Cougars will unveil a special jersey. After struggling early in the season, they have scored touchdowns on 14 of the past 16 trips inside the 20-yard line the last three games. Can the Commodores keep up with UH's high-powered offense? Vanderbilt, which averages 18 points, could share snaps at quarterback between Johnny McCrary and Kyle Shurmur.

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"They understand that there doesn't need to be a whole lot of motivation in terms of the opponent that you are playing," UH coach Tom Herman said. "Our guys know who they are, and what Vanderbilt did last week to Missouri and the conference that they are in. I'm confident that they will be excited to play them."

'Big physical group'

Vanderbilt has the best defense UH will face to date, ranking 13th in scoring defense (16.3 points per game), 22nd in total defense (316.6 yards) and 16th in run defense (109.9).

The Cougars are fourth in scoring (47.6), fifth in total offense (561.1) and seventh in rushing (291.6). Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. is tied for the FBS lead with 15 rushing touchdowns. Running back Kenneth Farrow has eight touchdowns in the last four games. Wide receiver Demarcus Ayers is third in the AAC in receiving yards (93.4 per game) and a threat on punt returns.

"If they weren't in the SEC they'd still be Vanderbilt," Ayers said. "It's a big physical group, but at the end of the day, we're physical, we're top 10 in the nation rushing, and our offense is one of the best in the country."

The Commodores have shown improvement on defense since coach Derek Mason took over the defensive play-calling in the offseason. Vanderbilt is coming off a 10-3 win over Missouri and only twice has allowed more than 20 points in a game, coming in losses to Georgia (31-14) and Mississippi (27-16).

Meanwhile, UH has five wins by at least 21 points.

"I think the pressure is on Houston," Mason said this week.

He called game film of UH's offense "the hottest mix tape on the shelves."

UH a heavy favorite

Vanderbilt (3-4) is a 12-point underdog, which according to Bovada.lv is the Commodores' largest to a school from a non-Power 5 conference in at least 30 years, the Nashville Tennessean reported.

Herman said the Vanderbilt defense presents a challenge because of the multiple looks up front, blitzes and coverages.

"I guess you can do that when you have really smart players like they do at Vanderbilt," Herman said. "It's amazing how many different looks you'll see throughout the course of a game. We are going to have to be really dialed in."

Joseph Duarte has been a sports reporter for the Houston Chronicle since August 1996. He currently covers college athletics, focusing on the University of Houston. Previously, he wrote about the Houston Astros from 1998-2002, Houston Texans from 2002-05 and the Texas Longhorns from 2005-09. He came to the Houston Chronicle as part of an internship through the Sports Journalism Institute in 1995.